Meconopsis.

No, Ive never managed to keep blue Meconopsis going, ground to dry in summer and too hot. A garden near us grows them well, but they have a stream running though their property and they are growing under the shade of trees out of the sunshine, beautiful, Im so envious. Good luck.

Ome of our HPS members does and I know he wrote a blog for our mag so I will look it out for you. be later possibly Sunday as we are having daughter's in laws over.

I have never succeeded, but wish you every luck

Good Luck ! and I think I'll try them again too. I think I'll try the seeds. When I bought a plant it died within weeks.

MEADOWLAND & HYWELL, 3rd attempt over the years. I grew mine from HPS seed (fertile blue group) last Spring in humusy slightly acidic soil in pots -did well -planted them out in a moist shady position - then -summer dryness, followed by rain rain rain -now nothing but swampy soil.
Best of luck.

Sounds a lovely idea Julia. I enjoy trying new things from seed so might try and do the same.

Siris, what is HPS seed?

I have checked back through the HPS blogs we have done in our East Yorks group and I| cant find the one on Mecanopsis. On further pondering I think the chap did a 10 min talk on growing them one Christmas. So sorry I have to let you dowwn.

HPS is the Hardy Plant Society. They have a seeds scheme where you can buy seeds that include some really unusual plants. I think single membership is £17 a year and you get a couple of journals a year that have excellent articles in them. Worth having a look at their website.

Many thanks Eileen, that does sound interesting … I will definitely investigate 🙂.

Julia, they are really pretty, I can see why you’d like to grow them. I’ve never attempted to, as my garden doesn’t lend to the conditions they require.
OH was out doing a ‘last’ sweep of the leaf fall yesterday, he didn’t need the vacuum blower contraption fortunately!
I’ve a few crocus in flower, hellebore x 1..the others in bud..and some crocus shooting through. No sign of my aconites yet.

I’ve just looked in a useful book, “Growing Plants from Seed” by Christopher Lloyd and Graham Rice. They say grow Meconopsis seed in a peat based compost (I guess ericaceous) and some grit will help. “Sowing should be done no later than February, and the compost should never dry out.”
You seem to have picked the right time Julia!

Good luck on your attempt to grow this beautiful blue Poppy, Shelia! I would never be able to grow them on the balcony as the summer months make it very hot with all the sunshine we get from about 11am till the sun sets!

Please keep us informed of your progress from time to time as we would all love to hear how they are doing.

WARNING! I joined the HPS and then discovered that it is too late to order seeds for 2023 🙁. But of course I can look elsewhere …

Thanks Balcony …

I've sent you a pm Sheila.

Julia, I grew these year's ago now. I think the seeds were from Amy, she had them.in her old garden. The first spring I had a few gorgeous blue flowers and the second, a,white one. I grew them in the shady and damp side of the garden. I first saw them in flower at a small plant nursery in Ambleside, fell in love right there and then..:))

Yes, I bet you have quite a few suitable areas? Yes, there's always a lot of decaying leaves too in the area where I grew mine. They didn't stay long though, I'm afraid.

Missed this one Julia, I've tried many times to grow them but cannot keep them going no matter where I try, even kept in a pot they never came back for a second year, hope you succeed....

Good luck Julia! (I haven't found the seeds yet ... )

Belatedly joining the failures. My garden was rather dry clay so no wonder they gave up. I have only seen them growing well once and that was in a damp woodland patch next to a stream. they are so desirable. Good luck and let us know what happens?